Singing for the old folks at Full Circle Adult day Center.

Translation: I get paid to make music and help others make music. It almost feels scandalous.

Life is so much more fulfilling when we spend our time doing something we love. It makes all the little setbacks seem conquerable. It makes the impossible seem possible.

A year ago, I had no idea what I was going to do when I finished my Master’s. Now, I can say I had a successful first semester running my own studio! I had 15 students in my home studio and a total of 38 students overall. I never tire of seeing each of their faces and interacting with each unique personality.

I have started taking some more adult students and I really love working with them as well. Adult students are often taking piano because they want to learn specific pieces or just want to learn piano for themselves. They have so much intrinsic motivation and I learn so much from them.

I never want to stop gleaning inspiration from others – and my students are a great way to start! I can’t wait to see what the next semester, and the next year holds. I want to finish my NCTM, start getting trained in Suzuki, build my music library… the list goes on. After some rest and relaxation over the holidays, I’ll be ready to get to it!

I realized I could inspire others, even teachers older and more experienced than me. This shows me and gives me hope that we are always learning, and we always should be. Curse the day I stop trying to become a better teacher and no longer consider the ideas of others.

Along the same lines, I kept thinking about an idea I gathered from a blog I read recently. Sometimes, we try so hard to stand out or be different, but those are usually the dead ends. We usually stand out the most when we aren’t trying and just doing our best. Part of my philosophy then, is to not worry about how novel my idea may be, but if I am going to present or work at it to the best of my ability. That is what makes you stand out.

I had been hoping before the Colorado trip that I would leave with some good ideas on teaching from the other teachers. Little did I know how inspired I would be.

For one – efficiency. Jill, a PPMTA member and now friend that I was staying with, is such a great model of the kind of woman I want to be. She volunteers for a multitude of projects and tasks for her chapter, including coordinating the State Piano Competition. She accompanies full time at a local middle school and teaches privately at her home. Jill does all of this with a smile on her face and a kind heart – and she still manages to come home and have dinner ready for her husband. She reminded me that sometimes, you have to “JUST DO IT!”

I got to spend time chatting with some of the other teachers over brownies or tomato basil soup, and I remembered the diversity of teachers there are. That is an especially good reason why we should let ourselves be inspired by others. Simply getting another outlook can show us things we didn’t think of. I got some great ideas for teaching adult students that I’ve been looking for.

All of this to say, I have my very own set of experienced, caring teachers here in Norman, and I’m going to get to know them better!

Also, one day I want to live in Colorado Springs.

The first week was a bit crazy, planning and buying books for all 32 kiddos. Teaching in 3 different places is a little energy-draining too. However, I am much more prepared and relaxed this week, and just enjoying it fully.

I feel like I could do this for the rest of my life. I would expand it of course – I dream of opening a community music school somewhere, hiring teachers in other areas of music. I enjoy the behind the scenes work of running a studio – and I think this sort of thing is right up my alley.

I am applying for the MTNA Studio Fellowship Award. It’s kind of perfect – must be less than 26 years old, must commit to teaching in the same area for 2 years, must show dedication to studio development, etc. Wish me luck!

You see, ever since I heard Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” I’ve wanted to go there. I feel like that song describes me: “Slow down, you crazy child; you’re so ambitious for a juvenile…. Though you can see when you’re wrong, you know you can’t always see when you’re right.” However, when he says “When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?” I am reminded that all good things will come with patience.

I have had several failed attempts at traveling abroad due to lack of money usually. I told myself I would wait for the right opportunity. It came up during my 2nd year of my master’s at OU. The Piano Seminar at the Classical Music Festival was the perfect thing for me… and I had enough extra money to save to pay for it!

Sitting there on the bus today, on my way to Wien, listening to Billy Joel’s words that had created a dream for me and helped me make it come true – I realized what this trip really means for me. It is a milestone in my life – I paid for this trip on my own because I wanted to go. I made it happen. It marks my adulthood, and when I go back to the US, I will be ready to embark on my new beginning.

My life has just begun!

I’m doing this for several reasons:

1. I’ve always wanted to. Listening to jazz is so relaxing, yet invigorating. I can only imagine the feeling if I’m actually the one playing it. I hope to be able to play in an ensemble at some point.

2. To learn something new. Jazz is a completely different language than classical piano. I am not only expanding my mind and my skills, but experiencing what it feels like to be a beginner (kind of) at something.

3. I think it will be beneficial in my teaching. My philosophy involves giving students a well-rounded music education, and jazz fills in those gaps that traditional instruction contains. I’m not saying I’m going to teach all my students how to play jazz (unless they are really interested, and if I’m qualified), but I would love to incorporate aspects of it. I hope it will give me a better basis for improvisation, composition, ear-training, among many activities.

In other news, ah the wonders of networking. The Piano Seminar at OU afforded me a chance to speak with some really neat teachers from Colorado Springs. They were really interested in what I’m doing, and relayed information about my recent lecture recital to their local MTNA chapter Vice President. He asked if I would do my recital as a program up there this Fall!!! How cool is that? I will be going up there the 2nd Tuesday of October to give my presentation (not to mention do some sight-seeing!). I’m sure I will be posting about this a lot more in the weeks to come!

I must say that there are so many details that go into something like this, and seeing firsthand as Dr. Magrath’s assistant, she is one of the most organized people I know! It is a great experience to watch her in action and see how things run so smoothly because of her organization. I know the Seminar is going to be great because she is running it!

The Seminar is here in Norman, at the University of Oklahoma next week, June 13-15. If you didn’t get to register, at least come for the recitals on Monday and Tuesday evening. See the website for more details: http://oupianoworkshop.publishpath.com/

This past week was my first *official* teaching in the Tripi Piano Studio. Boy was it great! I met and worked with so many different kids, all of whom have unique and interesting personalities. Some are really outgoing, while with others, I will have to wait for them to open up more. However, we all know that music is a great way to do that!

I realized I should probably schedule in set “office time” every day, especially in the fall. This way, I can ensure that I will get all that office work/website updating/lesson planning, etc. done without working all the time. I mean, it’s a job, so I should be putting that time into it, not just when I’m teaching.

It’s so nice to be able to devote all my time/energy to teaching, rather than being stretched a million ways with school. I’ll be lesson planning and suddenly think “Oh, I need to find a better way to do that!” … and guess what? I have time to!

Also, I submitted my application for MTNA Certification today. All $200 of it. Oof. But, by this time next year, I should be able to put the letters NCTM after my name!

So, since I have a lot more time on my hands now to devote to my private studio, I’ve been thinking a lot. This feels right. I really could get used to this self-employment thing!

If I do decide to make it my life’s work, however, it needs to become something bigger…. like a community music school. Something kind of like this.

Also, I am really interested in the use of the internet for studio management, advertising, blogging, and the like. I’d really like to make this blog more consistent and detailed for several reasons.

1. For my own personal record of my journey.

2. For those in the same boat as me to share and discuss ideas.

3. For future teachers just starting out, trying to utilize 21st century resources to suit 21st century students.

Yay!

The fact that I get to meet with the students soon is really exciting! I love when they come in and get to show me what they can do and what their future goals are for piano.

I’m also quite joyful about the fact that I can make a living doing this next fall! Holding a private studio is definitely my cup of tea, and I know I can make it work!